Savant << suh VAHNT >> syndrome is a rare condition in which a person with a mental disability also demonstrates a spectacular ability or special skill. People with savant syndrome often have some intellectual limitations, but some savants have superior IQ (intelligence quotient) scores. Some of them have a developmental disability, such as autism. Others may have a disease or injury of the central nervous system. But they also display at least one skill far beyond the abilities of most people. These special abilities are generally confined to a few areas. They include exceptional musical and artistic ability, lightning calculation (the ability to rapidly add, multiply, or divide long strings of numbers), calendar calculation (the ability to compute the day of the week for any given date), and certain mechanical and visual-spatial skills. Such a skill is usually accompanied by an exceptionally deep and detailed memory. However, this memory is usually limited to the narrow area of the skill.
Not all persons with autism are savants, and not all savants have autism. Scientists estimate that as many as 1 out of every 10 persons with autism shows savant characteristics. Savants occur in about 1 of every 1,400 persons with other types of brain disease or injury.
History.
The British physician John Langdon Haydon Down first described savant syndrome in 1877. He documented remarkable examples of memory and other mental abilities that he observed in certain people at an asylum in Surrey, England. Such individuals were often called idiot savants because their abilities were accompanied by a severe intellectual disability.
Since then, researchers have observed several well-known savants and documented their special abilities. For example, the American savant Leslie Lemke can play almost any piece of music on the piano after hearing it once. His musical ability developed without any instruction and in spite of the fact that he is blind, mentally disabled, and has had cerebral palsy from birth. Another American savant, Kim Peek, completely memorized the text of over 9,000 books and could recite passages at will. Peek also showed calendar calculation skills and an exceptional memory of facts and details in many subjects, including geography, history, music, and sports.
Causes.
Savant syndrome is not a disease or disorder itself. But the astonishing abilities of savants always appear with some underlying disability. Savant syndrome may be congenital (inborn) or acquired. Most savants are congenital savants. Their special abilities usually emerge in childhood, often quite suddenly. However, special skills occasionally surface spontaneously in people following a head injury or stroke. Such acquired savant syndrome is less common.
Scientists do not know what causes savant syndrome. Most theories account for some cases but not others. Many scientists believe that the neurons (nerve cells) of the brain can “rewire” themselves, substituting undamaged brain tissue for areas of brain damage. This rewiring may lead to the unique abilities of savants.
Treatment
for savant syndrome focuses on the underlying developmental disability or brain damage. Some persons with savant syndrome are severely mentally disabled and unable to live without assistance. But others can use their skills in the work place and achieve a great deal of independence. Families and caregivers are often encouraged to help savants develop their special abilities. Researchers have found that by doing so, savants often develop better language and social skills, improve daily living skills, and gain more independence. Developing a special ability can also help improve the underlying disability.
See also Autism .
